Zouhair Talbi led three U.S. men into the top 10 at the New York City Marathon, finishing sixth in 2:06:43. He stayed with the lead pack for much of the race and surged to the front twice between halfway and 30 kilometers (18.6 miles). He lost contact in the 25th mile when Andreas Almgren of Sweden, defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya and Yeman Crippa of Italy began battling at the front. Almgren went on to win and Crippa finished second.
Ahmed Muhumed was the second U.S. finisher in his debut marathon, placing eighth in 2:07:09. The time makes him the tenth-fastest U.S. marathoner ever, and the challenging New York City course adds to the significance of the achievement. Ryan Ford was the third U.S. finisher, placing tenth in 2:07:17. Ford was often among those fronting the 20-plus-man lead pack in the first half of the race.
Conner Mantz placed 11th in 2:07:26 in his first marathon since setting the U.S. record of 2:04:43 last year in Chicago. Aiden Troutner, one of Mantz’s training partners, lowered his personal best by almost a minute and a half to place 14th in 2:08:54.
Talbi, Muhumed, Ford and Mantz are now the four fastest U.S. men in history on the U.S. course. Troutner’s time makes him the sixth-fastest American in race history.
Talbi was already having a career year entering the race. He won the Houston Marathon in January in 2:05:45, making him the fifth-fastest American ever on a record-eligible course. He placed fifth at Boston in April in 2:03:45, though Boston times do not count for record purposes because of the net elevation loss on the point-to-point course. Seven weeks ago, he won the Great North Run, a half marathon in England, outkicking Alex Mutiso of Kenya, who has won the London Marathon and was second at New York City last year. Talbi said that victory gave him confidence that he could take on the best in the world in the marathon.
He ran accordingly. As the massive lead pack approached halfway, he ran a 4:46 13th mile, causing the pack to dwindle. Talbi had a five-second lead as he and his pursuers approached the 59th Street Bridge for the run into Manhattan. He was caught on the bridge but remained in contention once the real racing began in the 23rd mile. At 40K (24.09 miles), Talbi was fourth, just six seconds behind Almgren. But the earlier fast running caught up to him in the mostly uphill final 600 meters in Central Park, and he fell back to sixth.
“I went for it and paid the price in the last few minutes,” Talbi said soon after finishing. His 2026 résumé establishes him as a clear favorite to make the 2028 Olympic Marathon team.
Sources: Runner's World.